Readers who want to use Gift Aid can now boost their donations by 25p for every £1 they give, says Mail Force.
Mail Force is a registered charity that was initially set up to get personal protective equipment (PPE) to brave NHS workers. Now it is turning its help to Ukrainian families fleeing the Russian invasion.
The campaign which has so far raised £2.55million, and which has the backing of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, and says it has become the fastest newspaper fundraiser in world history.
Ted Verity, Editor of Mail Newspapers, said: “The immediate response and extraordinary generosity by Mail readers towards the people of Ukraine in their hour of need has been quite simply overwhelming and has resulted in this refugee appeal becoming the fastest newspaper fundraiser in world history. We will ensure every penny of the campaign money, now being collected by the Mail Force charity, is being passed to the aid organisations helping with this emergency crisis.”
On Wednesday, the Duchess of Cornwall gave a 'substantial' donation to the refugee appeal. Her spokesman told the Daily Mail: “No one could fail to be moved by the appalling scenes of Ukrainians fleeing their homes and the duchess wanted to help in whatever way she could.”
Author Barbara Taylor Bradford, Sir Michael Palin and Oscar-winning Dame Judy Dench all backed the campaign and urged readers to “donate as much or as little as you can.”
Other contributions included a £250,000 donation from a British firm, Peak Scientific, with business partners trapped in Ukraine and at the request of Lord and Lady Rothermere, the Mail's parent company DMGT has donated £500,000.
The appeal money, being collected by the Mail Force charity, is being passed to aid organisations already operating inside Ukraine and on the borders with Poland, Romania and Hungary where more than half a million people have so far crossed to safety.
The first £500,000 from the Mail Force Appeal is going to CARE International, a charity already operating deep inside Ukraine.
Its aid workers organised a convoy of five trucks loaded with humanitarian aid on Sunday – just three days after the invasion.
The vehicles arrived in Lviv, western Ukraine, on Monday, with food, sleeping bags, mats, nappies and hygiene kits for families fleeing the fighting.
CARE, which was founded in the US in 1945, aims to prioritise them, women, girls and the elderly.
The Mail has provided the following information about how to donate:
Just Giving: justgiving.com/mailforcecharity
By text:
To donate £10, text HELP to 70115
To donate £20, text AID to 70115
Texts cost either £10 or £20 plus a standard network rate message. 100% of the donation goes to charity.
By phone:
Call 0300 12345 77 and follow the instructions to make your donation. A small fee will be deducted by the payment processing platforms when you pay by debit or credit card.
Via bank transfer:
Account name: Mail Force Charity
Account Number: 48867365
Sort code: 60-00-01
By cheque:
Make your cheque payable to 'Mail Force' and post it to:
Mail Newspapers Ukraine Appeal
GFM
42 Phoenix Court
Hawkins Road
Colchester
Essex
CO2 8JY
